E locus melanistic mask
Summary
Boxers, pugs and some other breeds have typical look that includes a black face with a lighter body or brindling. This is usually called a mask, or a melanistic mask. Masks can be just around the lips, as you might like see in a Rhodesian ridgeback. Larger masks can go all the way past the eyes.
Masks can be seen on mixed breed dogs as well as purebreds.
Masks can also come in more colours that just plain black! If a dog has two copies of a dilute gene their mask will be dilute. The same applies to brown genes: if a dog has two copies of a brown gene their mask will be brown instead of black.
Owners and breeders can test for the mask allele to find out whether their dog has one or two copies of this gene. There might also be cases where white markings can hide a mask.
Order the E locus panel to get a more complete understanding which E locus genotypes are present.
Gene or region and technical reference
Gene: MC1R (causative). Reference: Schmutz et al. (2003)
Reported alleles
n. Test developed using artificial DNA and animal controls.
Em. Test developed using artificial DNA and animal cases.
Panels: groups of tests that are often ordered together
This test is in the E locus panel.
